MANCHESTER – Several people were charged with trespassing at the Heritage Minerals property, a huge area where people like to ride off-road vehicles and swim in a man-made lake.
Trespassers have got hurt or have died here in the past. Recently, a man drowned in what is known as “Crystal Lake.” This is a mineral spring that is colder than most other bodies of water. It was dug by the former mining operation there, and because of that, the bottom is uneven. Swimmers can suddenly find themselves in water more than 60 feet deep as they wander off the shelf. It is believed that the largest lake has a depth of 300 feet.
Local police teamed with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department to enter the property and issue citations as a warning to keep trespassers away – especially as Labor Day weekend is coming up.
Police said numerous criminal and traffic summonses were issued.
The Heritage property is a privately owned former strip-mining area sometimes known as ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company), Inc.
The Manchester Township Police Department urged everyone to obey the “No Trespassing” signs posted at the site. Trespassers are subject to substantial fines and penalties up to and including incarceration for being on the property.
